Empower Emerging Designers: The Elissa Rumford Grant

Help Us Launch the Elissa Rumford Grant for Emerging Designers

Dear friends and supporters,

It is with heavy hearts and a profound sense of purpose that we announce the creation of the Apocene Fashion Fund—a nonprofit dedicated to raising and distributing the The Elissa Rumford Grant for Emerging Designers. We recently lost our Ap0cene co-founder and cherished friend Elissa Rumford, her young life tragically and abruptly cut short. Elissa’s passion for championing emerging designers with bold ideas led her to start Ap0cene. One of her final initiatives—the creation of this fund—stands as a powerful reminder of her unwavering commitment to nurturing new talent.

Her vision went beyond providing a platform for designers; she aimed to create a foundation that would help them truly flourish. In her honor, we are establishing the Apocene Fashion Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering emerging designers to launch their careers and leave their mark on the fashion world as Elissa has. This fund will provide The Elissa Rumford Grant for Emerging Designers to talented individuals, helping them establish their practices, grow their brands, and push the boundaries of creativity, sustainability, and social impact in fashion.

With your support, we can carry on Elissa’s legacy and make a lasting impact on the future of fashion. Help us make her vision a reality.

About the Apocene Fashion Fund

The Apocene Fashion Fund will provide critical grants to emerging designers, enabling them to hone their craft, further their production, and expand their brands. These grants will offer both financial support and recognition, helping designers gain the resources they need to break into a competitive industry.

Introducing the Elissa Rumford Grant for Emerging Designers

In honor of creative visionary Elissa Rumford we are launching our first grant: The Elissa Rumford Grant for Emerging Designers. Elissa has been instrumental in shaping community, championing innovation, and fostering a sustainable future in fashion. This grant will carry her values forward by supporting the next generation of fashion talent—designers who are ready to make a positive impact on the industry. Through this grant, we hope to open doors and create new opportunities for these emerging voices.

Our Goal

We’re raising $15k to cover the costs of establishing the Apocene Fashion Fund and creating the first Elissa Rumford Grant. Your generous contributions will go toward:

Nonprofit setup fees – Covering the legal and filing costs necessary to make the Apocene Fashion Fund a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Initial Grant Funding – Building a fund for our first round of grants to emerging designers which we hope to award in March of 2025.

Administrative Support – Ensuring that we can effectively manage the grant process and provide ongoing support to our grant recipients.

Why This Matters

Fashion is more than clothing—it’s a platform for artistic expression, cultural dialogue, and social change. By supporting emerging designers, you’re investing in a future where innovative voices and bold ideas can thrive. Your donation will empower designers who are not only passionate about their craft but also dedicated to reshaping the fashion industry to be more environmentally sustainable and socially responsible.

How You Can Help

Every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to making this fund a reality. In addition to donations, we appreciate any help in spreading the word! Share this campaign with friends, family, and colleagues who believe in the power of fashion to inspire and transform.

Thank you so much for helping us launch the The Elissa Rumford Grant for Emerging Designers and honoring Elissa’s impact in such a meaningful way. Together, let’s support the future of fashion and the incredible talent shaping it.

Donate now and help us shape the future of fashion!